Reflecting on Untapped Possibilities
This is the second steppingstone of the Fourth pathway in our journey towards awareness as we continue to unravel the depths of our dreams and discover their impactful nature.
•
15 MINUTE READ
A tired and unsettled man or woman working hard every day for financial freedom in the hopes of acquiring “success” is a well-known concept. The problem exists when our perspectives become muddled with regard to expectations causing success to be defined by a majority rather than by the individual actually doing the striving.
What does success really mean?
We all know what it means according to webster, but if we ask individuals to explain what it means for them, then we will find that there are more meanings for it than there are actual words in the dictionary.
•
The blanket statement “find a way to do what you love, and you will not be unhappy a day in your life” does hold wisdom. However, the complexities of life bring to light a very real pitfall involving how we can understand, interpret, and embrace the “do what you love part” so as to make it tangible no matter the person.
Some of us are lucky enough to obtain security and to support ourselves comfortably enough all while having our passions well positioned at the helm of our ship. Unfortunately, there are many of us who may not be so fortunate depending on circumstances, support systems, and the nature of the particular passion in question.
We cannot help what our passions happen to be and what they happen to be does, in fact, impact their ease and depth of placement in our lives. Furthermore, our opportunities to exercise them out in the world with a long reach is also greatly influenced by the unavoidable interloper and critic we all know as “societal influence”.
•
As our life course unfolds, if we cannot make a career out of our passions, we may abandon them all together, because we do not see a place for them on our journey to “expected success” and we do not want to think about it knowing we cannot make it “fit”. This can eat away at us slowly and deftly because we have left what made our hearts glad to wither away, leaving behind only regrets and a subsequent internal struggle for self-forgiveness.
Another possibility is that we will try to pursue it on the side, with the mindset of a part time job or hobby. This actually starts off with the best and most honest of intentions, but in the daily grind of life, the innocent beginning of this choice can very easily become twisted with time. Inevitably overtaken by responsibilities and not enough hours in the day we start treating it like a burden that we have to get to and through. Stressed and exhausted by a mandated routine, we end up resenting our passion for not being the more that we needed and wanted it to be and end up treating it like an additional hardship.
There is nothing better than if we can realize our missteps and turn things around, other than, of course, never losing sight of the gift that is the guilelessness of our passions in the first place. It is hard to take our passions to new and wonderful places despite the obstacles of life, but if we can commit to our passions, we can become determined in our adaptability and persevere through change.
Altering our realities for the sake of what lights us up helps us realize that success can take on many forms and all that matters is how we see it and how we believe it.
•
Success does not have to mean riches or things or status. In fact, I personally, do not feel it means any of those things with respect to what really counts in life. Sometimes our passions may simply start to make their mark by bringing us “success” with respect to how we feel, the choices we make, how we see ourselves, and how we see the world. Success, in this case, is an idea of wholeness in a human being. I know that if I were a kid again, I would want to be brought up with those values over things and status. Of course, I might not realize it then, but I would no doubt give praise and gratitude for it later on.
Interestingly, if we can see the opportunities through this perspective, given enough time our circumstances can evolve, and unexpected doors may open to potential scenarios that could allow for our passions to hold a brand new and perhaps more impactful position in our lives.
Sometimes we have to be willing to fenagle, twist in the wind, and pull a couple rabbits out of our hats, but every action eventually leads to another and then another, and before you know it the scenery has changed drastically. We look around and realize everything is brand new.
Nothing gives us inspiration like a fresh start.
•
We need to consider ways that our passion can bring us to life every single day for whatever available moments or more that we might have. We should not squander or curse the time we do have, but rather simply try to embrace it for all it is worth. We do this by leading with a sense of curiosity as if we were kids following a treasure map or exploring a wondrous cavern. Really embrace the excitement and the thrill that surrounds what makes that thing your passion.
The other important thing is keeping it only for us, as something special. Allowing it to be our “secret love”. Forbidden to everyone else and away from prying eyes, we are able to abandon the lines for what is between them and to set ourselves free with whatever our passion is willing to offer. This can bring incredible feelings of relief.
By not sharing it with others, we have the space to better recognize the details and surprises around what it brings to our table. There is an undeniable thrill that exists in keeping secrets, so expand on that when it comes to your relationship with your passion. Hold a new idea close, sneak away, do whatever you have to do for yourself at first. Then, when the time is right, the experience of sharing it with chosen people will be that much more powerful and memorable.
•
Dylan’s story can help us to begin to connect these perspectives through an interesting lens.
PART 1 -
Dylan spent his days doing what was necessary, but in the quiet of the evenings, he often chased shadows wondering what else could be out there. He constantly felt pulled, but without an understanding of the direction.
Dylan would sneak away when the birds were barely readying to wake. Aimlessly walking and searching. In truth, there was one path that he always ignored as it was shadow covered and appeared as if it wanted to be left alone. Maybe that was just the feeling that he got within himself when he pondered it during his travels.
Growing weary of the same scenery, he fell into a cycle where these outings became just as routine and as expected as his daily responsibilities. He accepted that the unapproached, darkened path made him nervous, but underneath he began to accept within him a pinch of excitement and curiosity as well. So, he chose to walk down the more unusual path.
The natural scenery of this path now surrounding him was hazy and melded together in ways that left him unsure of what was really there, but it was captivating and refreshing. Compelled to let go of tradition, he was inspired by it to open his mind to unusual thoughts and ideas. Dylan soon came upon a colossal grassy mound fitted with an iron gate in its center. Peeking between the bars, he saw only darkness, unable to tell what was beyond.
Suddenly, a young boy came around the side of the mound. Looking at the boy, Dylan became uncomfortable, not understanding why in the boy’s eyes he saw his own confused feelings of loss reflecting back. “What brings you here?” asked the boy. Dylan shrugged, unsure of how to explain it even to himself. “What’s inside?” asked Dylan as he stared at the gate ahead. "What are you looking to find?” replied the boy. Dylan again, simply shrugged.
Dylan pulled and pushed at the gate, but it did not budge. Struggling with it he cut his hand on a jagged piece of the iron. “I am sick and tired,” said Dylan, “and this dead end is hardly worth more stress and irritation.” The boy then asked him what exactly was worth his time and energy. Defeated, Dylan hung his arms through the iron bars. “I just wanted to do something, to explore something in the shadows that was my very own.” said Dylan as he looked into the blackness ahead.
Pulling his arms back, the gate also began to pull open. The sound of the gate as it opened was like nails on a chalk board to the extreme, causing him to cover his ears in distress because it hurt so bad. Dylan had always been sensitive to and disturbed by sounds like that, making him wonder if maybe it was a sign that he should not bother to go further. The boy seemed to know his thoughts. “Maybe that sound was there to remind you of the sounds that you are drawn to and that you do love,” said the boy, “to make you think about them just a little more deliberately.”
Dylan gazed into the darkness that lay ahead. “Beautiful sounds are a secret that I keep.” whispered Dylan. He did not even realize that he had spoken. The boy smiled knowingly. “Yes, it would seem that you do, even from yourself.” said the boy. The boy saw the pain in Dylan’s eyes. “The story behind your sound, is well worth being found.” exclaimed the boy. Intrigued, Dylan stepped inside, and after walking what seemed like only a few steps he came to a beautiful, lush garden. Standing in its center, he looked all around and further ahead towards a forest that seemed to go on for eternity.
•
PART 2 -
The garden was a vision, but sounds were on his mind. He was bombarded by them. It was almost too much, making him want to hide away. Yet, something inside him began to awaken. He closed his eyes, breathed deeply, and tried to clear his mind in search of new prospects so as to let go of the old. In time, he started to focus on one particular sound for its consistent tone, frequency, and pattern. Suddenly, it struck him that the sound reminded him of a metronome.
He followed the sound to droplets of water falling evenly, one by one, from the surface of a rock wall and directly onto an irrigation pipe in the ground. Paying closer attention now, he began to better hear rhythms on the breeze. A buzzing bee swooping all around him followed by a woodpecker making work of a nearby tree energized him as if it were the progression of a drum roll signaling what was to come. Rain began to fall, pitter pattering softly on the grass covered ground and pricklier so on the leaves making Dylan imagine a rain stick being put to good use.
The sound of dangling crystal wind chimes whistling in the wind on trees in the distance reminded Dylan of a beautiful and fluent duel between a piano and a harp. The water from a stream bordering the forest edge lapped back and forth against the rocks, reminiscent of a gong being brought to life in the distance. Then, Dylan saw a swan stretch its neck and release its trumpet. This brought his attention to the calls and melodies of the many other different birds fluttering all about, he listened happily to an array of proud flutes, violins, bells, cellos, and horns.
The dance and chatter of the small and wild mammals running all about, circling and chasing, made him envision a play where all the movements were depicted through a mixture of sassy clarinets, tubas, and oboes, the sounds sometimes melancholy and then rising to lightheartedness. Elated, Dylan walked towards and over the stream. Entering the woodlands, he absorbed even more sounds and enjoyed how they all worked in tandem.
Along the way, he did not fail to notice the movements of all the falling flower petals. Their silence actually reminding him of a music ensemble more than any other sound. The deafening silence he always heard in those in between moments of a symphony and after that final note at the end so poignant, giving the music itself even more triumph and grace.
Dylan finally understood the meaning behind his shadows and how it all made sense to him. He found a resonance he had long been missing by exploring what at first seemed unwelcoming and unattractive. Dylan now gleefully pushed himself to enter these dark places much more often, and with a newfound bravery and hopefulness, each time learning new things by trying hard to overcome his doubts and fears. In time, and with resilience, he found ways to change his circumstances.
Dylan started by volunteering and spending any time he could at centers for music and art as well as with youth orchestras. He discovered new communities, built relationships, and was inspired to learn. He had so much fun along the way and connected with other like-minded people. Given the opportunity, he even headed an educational outreach program for orchestra.
Time flew by and, with having found more of a place in the music industry, he was lucky enough to be gifted the opportunity to work as an Orchestrator for a few music pieces. However, his proudest moment was when he was in the right place at the right time and grabbed hold of the chance to conduct his very first live, outdoor symphony.
As Dylan was leading the music ensemble through the unfolding of its rich story, he could not help but to remember the path, the boy, the gate, the garden, the forest, and, most importantly, the sounds that were restored to him in the heart of it all when he dared to first walk the strange path existing within himself.
•
Everyone has their own unique story, but we all dream a similar “dream”. The dream that offers guidance if we are willing to accept and consider.
Yes, sometimes a dream is just a dream, but other times we can feel the ways in which it might bring about newness depending on how we shift our lens. By releasing the fear and looking inside, we let go of what we think is there and see something else, anything else. This is half the battle. To do this, we need to find a way to surrender to the possibilities, not to what brought us there.
Accepting our secret places gifts us the ability to discover and finally transcend the difficulties.
Afterall, being “stuck” is an illusion and our dreams are actually not so far from reality. They are just the “shapeless” part we have to try harder to be able to see through the veil.
I promise that when we have first won our own race, we will find it so much more rewarding to reach out to others to show them the details of what we have been building for ourselves. We become proud to show them the love within us as expressed through our passions.
•
Dreamwork –
Do you ever feel stuck?
Do you ever get tired of walking through the same “scenery”?
What actions can you take with respect to life’s trials that might begin to change your outlook?
All our lessons deserve recognition, not just the ones that seem to fit what we already supposedly know or understand.
Our dreams give our sorrows a face, they give our wishes and hopes a voice, and they give us a map to consider as we choose our own paths.
Dreams confront us with what we leave behind, not to intimidate, but as a means to guide us forward, like a flame at our back urging us on.
Our dreams are the mysteries and secrets that we harbor deep within. They are our own unchartered waters and unmarked lands ready for exploration.
Pay attention to your dreams or at least start to do so. For now, treat them as if they were unedited, very rough draft, incomplete stories. This is a fun, no pressure, way to begin since we are getting that much closer to when we will discuss more specifics of dream analysis.
Poetry is often dream-like, indirectly bringing things to the surface for our acceptance and subsequent growth under an obscure canopy. David Whyte’s poem, The Well of Grief, is a simple and short symphony of words filled with meaning and evoking thoughtfulness. It very beautifully directs our attention to focus on the missing pieces with regard to our unique personal recognition, but through a ubiquitous concept. This poem is a supplemental read worthy of inspiring action and choice through the experiences of another, and in ways we might otherwise never have dreamed to be possible.
•
The third steppingstone, connecting our internal and external worlds, in the fourth pathway, Embracing the unexpected through a differnt lens will become available on my blog, Dawning Descent, in due course.
If you were moved by anything that I had to contribute here please contact me regarding your experience. I am excited to travel this path and learn along with you. I look forward to our communications.
Please consider poeticevolution.com to be a safe and accepting place, as well as a home you can come to and experience in whatever ways it feels right for you.
Disclaimer: My blog articles are for information purposes only. What I write is based on my own personal journey and experiences. I am not endorsing any products of any kind that I mention in my blog posts nor any information that I provide to subscribers. Any and all information provided is NOT a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I am not a physician, therapist, or any other trained expert in regard to my contributions in this blog and information provided to subscribers. Always seek advice from qualified professionals or trained experts for anything regarding your well-being. You need to make your own enquiries to determine if the content, material, information, or services provided are relevant to and appropriate for your needs and intended use. Your reliance on any information provided is at your own risk.
Disclaimer regarding all communications: I am looking forward to engaging with you, so please feel free to subscribe and/or contact me and I will ALWAYS respond to any and all questions, suggestions, comments, opinions, and offerings. My responses will come as opportunity and time allow. I retain the right to remove any persons from my E-mail list and/or not to respond to communications should I deem it a necessity to maintaining the integrity of the spirit of my website. This site is a place for maturity, sincerity, positive learning and growth both inside and out, and as such it is important to connect and respond in kindness and with respect towards each other no matter our opinions.
